Day 144 Lives

May 2, 2015

(This is part
of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and illustrate a blog on
each day's gift.)

Today was supposed to be the opening of a group photography
exhibit by Creative Exposure Baltimore at New Beginnings Barbershop. Troy, the
owner, and I were looking forward to this event as a positive thing at the end
of a troubled time in Baltimore. However, a credible threat in this area made
it wise to postpone the opening party.

A brief timeline: April 12, Freddie Gray, an
African American, was arrested for some unknown reason by Baltimore police. By
the time the police van arrived at the Western District Police Station,
he was unresponsive. He was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma where
he died on April 19. Angry protests began in Baltimore with fires, looting and
destruction on April 27. On May 1, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby
announced that homicide, manslaughter and misconduct charges had been filed
against six police officers. David and I were at the protest/celebration/rally
at City Hall on May 1.

Since
April 27, most events in Baltimore have been canceled or rescheduled. One
exception was the City Lit Festival today at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on
Cathedral Street. Although attendance was down from last year, it was a good
event and David and I listened to readers at New Mercury Readings. As we walked
back to our car in a free parking space that David found, we saw the Pennsylvania State Police crossing the street in front of us. It was eerie. They lined up and
spaced themselves in front of boarded up, vacant properties along Howard
Street. I remember this whole area as a classy shopping district in the 50’s when
I was growing up. Things change.

We
stayed around and observed trees growing out of empty windows above the line of troops. Hunger took us to a restaurant, Alewife, which occupies what used to be Lucy’s. In an empty restaurant, we had
choice of seats. However, because of problems with food deliveries during the past
week of unrest in Baltimore, there were only four choices on the menu. We
decided on fries and water. It turned out to be a good choice.

On
the way back to our car on Paca Street, we saw a new graffiti message. Signs during
the protests had displayed the message, “Black lives matter.” This new graffiti
said, “God bless all lives.” If there is a god, I’m sure She doesn’t favor one
race, one gender, one nationality or one class. Good message.